Radiation literature survey

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This is a human provocation study that investigated whether RF exposure influences brain activity and ability to sustain attention. A total of 56 students participated in the study involving electroencephalographic recording and psychomotor testing whilst being exposed to Wi-Fi or sham. The exposure was at a frequency of 2.4 gigahertz (GHz), and a maximum peak SAR of around 15 mW/kg at the head region. This exposure level is around 0.75% of the general public exposure limit in the Australian RF Standard. The authors found that no effects on brain activity and attention were observed as a result of RF exposure.

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This is a cross-sectional study that investigated whether nocebo responses are responsible for the increases in health complaints surrounding the construction of high voltage power lines (HVPL). Questionnaires were distributed to residents in close proximity of HVPL (up to 500 metres away) and to residents living further away (500-2000 metres away). A total of 1254 responses were received in 4 stages: when the construction was carried out, construction completed but not yet operational, 2 months after operation, and 7 months after operation. The authors found that putting HVPL into operation can lead to subjective symptoms through stronger negative beliefs about the health risks, which is explainable by nocebo effects.

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This is a systematic review that investigated the association between tinnitus and exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF), particularly in people who claim to have electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS). A total of 45 relevant studies were evaluated. Some studies reported significantly higher prevalence of tinnitus in EHS participants. One major study suggested that tinnitus is associated with intensive use of mobile phone for a prolonged period (4 years or more). However the rest of the major studies evaluated did not report any effects or any direct association between EMF exposure and tinnitus.

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Meta-analysis of epidemiological studies that investigated the association between extremely low frequency (ELF) electromagnetic fields (EMF) and cancer risk. A total of 42 case-control studies involving 13,259 cases and 100,882 controls were included. The overall analysis of the pooled data found that there is a small increased cancer risk (odds ratio, OR = 1.08; 95% confidence interval, 95% CI = 1.01-1.15). In subgroup analyses increased risks were shown in interview-based studies compared to measurement-based studies, in North American studies compared to European studies and residential studies compared to occupational studies. The authors concluded that there is an association between ELF EMF exposure and cancer.

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The study by Zhang et al is one of the first meta-analysis to include all of the eligible case-control studies on ELF EMF exposure and cancer. Although the authors found an overall statistically significant association, the association is very small. Furthermore the authors assign subjects as being exposed at lower exposure levels, which could account for the results. Another methodological problem with this paper is that it combines both occupational and residential studies for the overall result; although separate associations are also provided.

The overall evidence for an association between ELF magnetic field exposure and the risk of female breast cancer as well as adult brain cancer and leukaemia is weak and remains inadequate (see World Health Organization’s Environmental Health Criteria no. 238, http://www.who.int/entity/peh-emf/publications/Complet_DEC_2007.pdf). The exception is with leukaemia in children, the new epidemiological studies published after the WHO’s review are continuing to be consistent with earlier findings of a possible increased risk of childhood leukaemia with exposures higher than typically encountered by the public (Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks). However, it is not known how magnetic fields could cause childhood leukaemia. In addition, other research including studies on cells and animals has not confirmed these results. On balance, the evidence related to childhood leukaemia is not strong.

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This animal study investigated whether the RF exposure, ringtone and vibration associated with mobile phone use results in anxiety-like behaviour and oxidative stress. A total of 25 rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: 1 group sham-exposed and 4 groups exposed to RF emitted from GSM mobile phones (at frequencies of 900/1800 MHz) with the phones’ ringing mode on silent, vibration, ringtone, and combination of vibration and ringtone. The exposure was for 10 minutes per day for 4 weeks. The authors found that the RF exposure or in combination with vibration and/or ringtone produced an effect on anxiety-like behaviour and oxidative stress in young rats.

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This animal study investigated whether the low-level exposure to ELF magnetic fields (MF) (alone and when combined with ionising radiation) has any effects on survival, growth and development of offspring during pregnancy and after birth. Mice were divided into 4 groups: sham-exposed, exposed to ELF-MF, exposed to X-rays (dose of 1 Gray), and exposed to both ELF-MF and X-rays. The ELF-MF exposure was at 50 Hz, 65 µT (32.5% of the public exposure limit from the current international guidelines), 24 hours/day for 30 days. The authors found that no effects were detected after continuous exposure to ELF-MF alone, whereas effects were observed with combined exposures to ELF-MF and X-rays.

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This is an animal study that investigated the effects of mobile phone and Wi-Fi use on some hormones and oxidative stress levels. A total of 72 rats (32 pregnant at the start and subsequently yielded 40 offspring) were divided into four groups: 1 control group and 3 exposed groups to radiofrequency (RF) radiation at 900, 1800 and 2450 megahertz (MHz), at specific absorption rate (SAR) of 0.1 W/kg (25% higher than the exposure limit for members of the public), for 60 minutes per day for a total of 9 weeks. The authors found that RF may alter hormone concentrations and oxidative stress levels in pregnant rats and their offspring.

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This is a case-control study conducted in the UK to investigate the association between the extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic fields (MF) from high-voltage underground cables and the risk of childhood cancer. A total of 55,525 children (cases) under the age of 15 diagnosed with childhood tumours in England and Wales were identified during the period 1962 – 2008. The cases were compared to a total of 116,815 controls matched for age, sex and the district of birth for their ELF MF exposure. The ELF MF exposure was calculated based on the distance between the nearest underground cables and the premises where the mother resided at child’s birth. The authors found no elevated risk of childhood leukaemia and no clear pattern of risks for other childhood cancers, with all levels of ELF MF exposure.

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For decades now, the question on whether ELF MF exposure is attributed to the risk of childhood leukaemia continues to be investigated. Based on some positive epidemiological findings between higher than normal MF and an increased risk in childhood leukaemia ELF MF was classified as “possibly carcinogenic for humans” in 2002 by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

To date, the study by Bunch et al. is the largest epidemiological study on the effects of ELF MF exposure resulting from underground high voltage power lines. The study did not find any association between ELF MF exposure and childhood cancers. It is expected that homes near underground power lines will not have higher than normal MF.

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This is a cross-sectional study that investigated whether adverse expectations (nocebo effects) related to electromagnetic fields (EMF) are the cause to the ailments of people claiming to have electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS). Forty EHS individuals were interviewed (11 men and 29 women) about their symptoms. The study found that most participants had the health symptoms for a period of time before they made the connection between their ill symptoms and EMF exposure (usually through the media). The author was of the opinion that nocebo effects may reinforce the attribution to EMF exposure however they may not always be the cause of EHS.

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This animal study looked into the effects of ELF MF exposure on the melatonin levels in calves. Eight young calves were divided into two groups: control and exposed group. The experiment was done twice, one in summer and one in winter. For each experiment, four calves were exposed to ELF MF at the intensity of 0.39 – 0.41 microtesla (µT) which is around 250 times below the current international guidelines for public exposure (which is 200 µT), for 35 days, and saliva samples were taken regularly. It was found that in the exposed group the melatonin level was reduced in winter and increased in summer. The authors hypothesised that the ELF MF exposure may have a different effect on the melatonin level depending on the season.

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